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00:00Another Friday Night SmackDown is in the books.
00:03And now the superstars of NXT prepare for their own Summer Spectacular.
00:07Two weeks of the Great American Badge.
00:10Welcome to Level Up.
00:12The Fallen Contest is scheduled for one fall.
00:37Introducing first, accompanied by a Lash Legend.
00:41Representing Metaphor, Jakara Jackson.
00:47Getting the action started tonight with a slice of the Metaphor.
00:50And it's all about that action with Miss Jackson.
00:53The eclectic, colorful energy, I love it with Metaphor.
00:57It makes me feel a certain kind of way, Blake.
00:59What kind of way does it make you feel?
01:00Well, we'll talk about that later.
01:02As Jakara Jackson preparing for singles competition.
01:05A lot going on right now all throughout the Metaphor.
01:08Certainly searching for a big win here tonight.
01:10And she's got the bougie bully in tow.
01:12And as Jakara appears for action here, we welcome in ringside here,
01:17Blake Howard and Byron Saxton.
01:19Yes, and you know what, you mentioned that Great American Badge is coming up.
01:24I'm talking about Miss Jackson, okay?
01:26She's my number one.
01:27You're also my number one, okay?
01:29Switch gears.
01:30See, I will not ever talk over Lash Legend.
01:33Whatever she says is fact.
01:35And her opponent, accompanied by Carly Bryant, Kendall Gray.
01:42Well, we go from Miss Jackson to the standout, undefeated amateur career.
01:47Now beginning to carve her niche in NXT, as Kendall Gray looks to unleash.
01:51Kendall Gray, she's got it, she's got it, she's got it, she's got it,
01:56she's got it, she's got it, she's got it, she's got it, she's got it, she's got it.
02:01As Kendall Gray looks to unleash.
02:03Kendall Gray, we've seen her singles action.
02:05Obviously, like tonight, we've seen her tag team action with Carly Bryant by her side.
02:10I love the fact that Kendall Gray continues to keep her options open.
02:13This early in your career, you can't get married to one road.
02:16Give yourself every option to be successful.
02:19And we certainly know the numbers game very strong throughout NXT.
02:22Kendall Gray has found herself a friend in Carly Bryant.
02:25Byron, if you notice there, when Kendall Gray stepped into the ring,
02:27that demeanor changed a little bit.
02:29That gear shifted, and she stepped into what she calls the gray area.
02:32Well, I did a little bit of research, as I do as a broadcast journalist.
02:35And one of the struggles Kendall Gray has had is just trying to make that mental
02:39adjustment to this industry, to professional wrestling, sports entertainment.
02:43From her amateur wrestling days where she was undefeated.
02:46And part of that adjustment is just trying to be more methodical and
02:50more patient, not being so hard on herself when she doesn't succeed.
02:53And you see her comfort zone here right on the canvas, taking it to Jakara Jackson.
02:57And Kendall Gray right now looking to certainly unleash a little bit,
03:01amp up that intensity.
03:02And in recent weeks in training, Jakara Jackson, Lash Legend, seemingly bullying
03:06Kendall Gray and Carly Bryant based on that victory they had over them on Level Up
03:10several months back.
03:10Yeah, I heard those stories before as well.
03:12And this is a great opportunity for Kendall Gray and
03:16Carly Bryant to a certain extent, to get some revenge and
03:19show how much improvement has happened ever since that tag team match a few months ago.
03:24As Kendall Gray right now looking to control the pace.
03:26And Kendall, very much fueled by her family,
03:28her dad who's worked long hours as she was growing up,
03:31wasn't necessarily around all the time.
03:33But she found an opportunity to do things with her father, whether it's training,
03:36whether it's watching film, whether it's playing different sports, whatever it might
03:39be, and that's really allowed Kendall to get motivated to get to the position she's
03:43in today.
03:43Right now showing her agility, her quickness, trying to disarm Miss Jackson.
03:48Takes flight into the cover, only gets two does Kendall Gray.
03:52I think something else that could be affecting Jakara Jackson as well as
03:55Last Legend is just all the unruly chaos right now being dealt with in metaphors.
04:00We take another look at that nice cross body.
04:03How focused can Miss Jackson, how focused can Last Legend be for
04:07that matter on the outside of the room because of what's been going on with
04:09Oro Mensa and Ethan Page.
04:11With Noam Dar still on the sideline, just a lot to deal with.
04:14Indeed, Noam Dar continues to rehab on the shelf.
04:16Oro Mensa on a mission right now to get his hands on the NXT Champion All Ego,
04:20Ethan Page.
04:22As right now, Jakara Jackson looking to get some positive momentum going right now
04:25for the metaphor.
04:26Speaking of positive momentum, here we go into the cover,
04:29hooks that outside leg, right on the doorstep.
04:31I'm gonna plant a little seed here for you, Blake.
04:34I made a couple calls, talked to some people, and later on tonight,
04:37here on Level Up, we're going to have a special guest at this desk.
04:41You gonna tell me who?
04:42Nope.
04:43Blinking news here from Byron Saxon,
04:45certainly something to keep tuned in throughout tonight's broadcast.
04:48Cuz right now, Jakara Jackson- You're wondering who it is now, aren't you?
04:51Of course I'm wondering who it is, the entire NXT Universe wants to know.
04:53Focus on the match right now.
04:54Focus on the fact that Jakara Jackson has been able to turn the tide in this match,
04:58and now she's got the advantage over Kendall Bray.
05:01And Byron, to that point,
05:02how has Jackson really improved inside the ring as a part of the metaphor?
05:05Well, it's interesting because Jakara does not see a great deal of singles action.
05:09But what we see so many times, not just in NXT, but
05:12all throughout our industry, is the company you keep that helps you stay focused.
05:16So when you've had the support system of metaphor, you're gaining knowledge,
05:20you're gaining experience, and that's gonna play.
05:22And you're able to translate that into the ring when you have the chance.
05:25You see that aggression continue to come out here from Jakara Jackson.
05:28As you have to imagine,
05:30Jakara very much inspired to get a victory for the injured Noelle Dar.
05:33It's Kendall Bray.
05:34Nice.
05:35That is a slam, and look at Jakara, hold on.
05:37And it behooves any competitor like the Jakara Jackson to always be locked in,
05:42because the state of the women's division is continuously changing.
05:46You don't know who's gonna be stepping up next.
05:48You don't know who might be popping up for TNA.
05:51We see new alliances, talk about Jasmine Nicks, Fallon Henley, Tracy James.
05:55Things are constantly evolving, and
05:57you have to constantly evolve with it, or you get left behind.
06:00Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown,
06:02players can come from just about anywhere right now.
06:04And Jakara looking to remain in control here.
06:06Kendall Bray continuing to put her foot on the gas,
06:10looking very determined in here, as both superstars are down now looking for
06:13an opening.
06:14Kendall Bray still supporting the damage done to the back of her neck,
06:17trying to power through it.
06:20And of course, we know with WrestleMania coming to Las Vegas,
06:23standing in the liver, gonna be in the exact same city.
06:26You have to imagine Kendall Bray very much driven to get to that position next year.
06:31And that could be an eternal motivation for Kendall Bray right now.
06:34As you get on your calendar, earn your way to that point.
06:38It was a modified angle slam right there,
06:41as Kendall really starting to amp things up a bit.
06:43And Bray, looking to lock Jackson in.
06:46Jakara did her homework.
06:47And Jakara in the position.
06:51And Kendall reverses course, almost out, she defeated Izzy Dane.
06:54Almost got her, almost got her.
06:56And now look at Kendall, not letting go of that left ankle.
06:59And Jakara Jackson getting a bit frustrated right now, Byron.
07:02I would say so, Kendall Bray is too.
07:04In the position, and there's the sugar rush.
07:11And Miss Jackson executes that action.
07:14Here is your winner, Jakara Jackson.
07:20Impressive victory right there, Byron, as the Metaphor.
07:23Looking to pick up some momentum.
07:25If you're feeling depleted, Jakara Jackson has the answer.
07:30How about a little sugar rush?
07:32How about a little victory and some much needed positive energy from Metaphor?
07:37And with Noam Dar on the shelf, Oromensa locked into the NXT Champion, Ethan Page.
07:42Jakara Jackson, looking to get some momentum going here for the Metaphor tonight on Level Up.
07:50As earlier this week, we had an opportunity to hear from Deion Lennox
07:53regarding his tag matchup last week.